Pope Francis's election as the first non-European pope is the biggest news item for those truly concerned about the times, and it is set within a biblical backdrop of conspiracy. Satan, the unseen master conspirator who has deceived all mankind (Revelation 12:9) and was a liar from the beginning (John 8:44), keeps conspiracies against God going while men come and go. Psalm 2:1-6 prophesies a worldwide conspiracy of nations and rulers against the Father and Son just before Christ's return. Francis is an Argentinean known for humble frugality and for strict orthodoxy, meaning adherence to established, traditional belief. He is firmly opposed to abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, evolution, and other tenets of modern humanism. This contrasts with Benedict, who was called "the Pope's Rottweiler" for enforcing doctrine as a cardinal but then had an uncontroversial reign. Francis has no such reputation, and his humility alongside outspoken orthodoxy seems an odd pairing. The most significant fact, according to those who hold conspiracy-based convictions, is that he is the first Jesuit ever elected pope, a notable point since the Jesuits are the largest order of priests. That this happens when Christ's return seems not far off invites a closer look at Jesuit history, beliefs, and practices, and at how the Catholic Church contrasts with what the Bible says the true church is.

Pope Francis, in a March 28 interview with atheist La Repubblica editor Eugenio Scalfari, was reported to have said that hell does not exist and that unrepentant souls are not punished but simply disappear. This appears to contradict nearly two millennia of Catholic teaching on hell's eternity and the soul's immortality, which Benedict XVI reaffirmed in 2007 and the catechism affirms. From a Church of God standpoint, he may be on to something, since the unrepentant will be burned up in the Lake of Fire rather than tormented in an ever-burning hell, though that is not exactly what is taught. The Vatican responded a day later that the article was Scalfari's reconstruction and not a faithful transcription of the Pope's words. Cardinal Vincent Nichols defended him, saying hellfire imagery belongs to Catholic iconography, not doctrine. Church leaders are publicly trying to work through holes in the doctrine of hell and the soul's immortality, yet they lack God's Spirit and the courage to follow the truth, since correcting these doctrines would unravel the Catholic structure like a house of cards. That is why the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the former Inquisition, is led by hardliners such as Ratzinger before and Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer now. Francis has been accused of fostering confusion, demeaning doctrine, appointing bishops with dubious teaching, intimidating objectors, and eroding Catholic confidence in their shepherd. His openness to unorthodox opinions may provoke a conservative backlash.

Pope Francis, succeeding Benedict XVI, is a 76-year-old native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the son of Italian immigrants. As the first Jesuit to wear the papal mitre, he chose the name Francis in honor of Francis of Assisi, reflecting his deep concern for the welfare of the poor. Known for his mild-mannered and soft-spoken nature, Pope Francis is a man of the people with a sense of humor, earning a reputation for holiness and humility. During his twelve years as head of the Catholic Church in Argentina, he lived simply in a downtown apartment, used public transportation, cooked his own meals, and regularly visited slums to wash the feet of the poor, sick, elderly, or imprisoned every Maundy Thursday. Since his election, Pope Francis has maintained his no-frills style, initially opting for a bus over the papal car, handling his own luggage, and paying his own bills. He has refused the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, choosing instead to reside in the Vatican guest house, though he has accepted a suite for meetings and visitors. On his first Maundy Thursday as pope, he continued his tradition by washing and kissing the feet of twelve juvenile offenders in Rome. Despite his gentle manner, he possesses a forceful personality, holding firm to his heartfelt positions while often using language in sermons and writings that balances theological dogma with merciful responses to a sinful world. Pope Francis also critiques global capitalism, labeling it a tyranny that values humans by consumption and a cult of money that breeds misery. He believes unbridled capitalism worsens poverty and disregards ethics, advocating for stricter controls over financial markets. With the Catholic Church's 1.2 billion adherents, particularly strong in Latin America, Europe, and Africa, there are indications that Pope Francis may wield the Vatican's political influence more actively, insisting that Catholics live out their faith in the world, potentially leading to significant developments during his papacy.

The Catholic Church, with its vast influence and membership of 1.2 billion people, has historically been a conservative force in global affairs. However, under Pope Francis, this stance appears to be undergoing a dramatic shift. Articles by prominent journalists, such as Ambrose Evans Pritchard of the Daily Telegraph, report that Pope Francis is steering the Church toward what he calls a "church for the poor," embracing liberation theology. This marks a significant departure from the policies of the past 40 to 50 years. Notably, just over 25 years ago, Pope John Paul worked to eliminate liberation theology, an effort led by Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict. Pope Benedict, a conservative German, resigned—the first Pope to do so in Catholic history—paving the way for Pope Francis to assume office. It appears that Pope Benedict's resignation may have been forced to allow for a more liberal approach. Pope Francis's recent address, Evangelii Gaudium, serves as a doctrinal statement of this major leftward swing within the Catholic Church, signaling a transformative direction for its future role in the world.

Pope Francis has approved a change in the wording of Jesus' model prayer in Matthew 6:13, traditionally known as The Lord's Prayer. With his authorization, Catholic Bibles, initially in Italian, will now render the verse as, "And do not let us fall into temptation," instead of the previous "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." This alteration, already implemented in French, Spanish, and Portuguese Bibles, follows sixteen years of research by scholars who deemed the current translation mistaken. Pope Francis publicly explained the change, stating, "I am the one who falls; it's not him pushing me into temptation to then see how I have fallen. A father doesn't do that. A father helps you to get up immediately. It's satan who leads us into temptation. That's his department."